Roofing construction



D@n 10,1946. O HOLM-HANSN 2,412,401

ROOFING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1944 IN V EN TOR. 0s m um! f/a/m Ha/mw? form of the improvement now known to me. the disclosure is of course by way of explanation Patented Dec. l0, 1946 ROOFING CONSTRUCTION Osmund Holm-Hansen, Faireld, Conn., asslgnor of two-thirds to John N. Ledbetter, Jr., New

York, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1944,- serial No. 566,262l s claims. (cima-13) This invention relates to an improvement in rooting construction; and particularly to a novel roofing element and means for ailixng same in position.

An object of the, invention is to provide a roofing element or shingle shaped out of metal and capable of being quickly and inexpensively produced bv machine, and means whereby such 'an element can be easily and firmly secured in place,

and adapted to make aperfectly tight and durable outer covering for any type of edifice. e

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements in roong members which can be mounted 'and attached by unskilled help, with a minimum amount of overlapping of parts; which dicated, t0 form flanges 3. In practice the transverse curvatureY of the shingle I conforms to a catenary or a parabola; because when loaded with snow, for example, it tends to `bend in accordingly. The size will ordinarily be about a `foot in width and six or eight feet long. When made of copper itwill be only some .006 inch thick. Besides copper I may also use phosphor bronze, copper and aluminum alloy, steel sheets. oxidized, colored, painted or covered with porcelain enamel. Copper of course will oxidize and turnv green in time. The material is light and its cost is small, and when it weathers, ithas the is of ysuch shape as tobe able to carry a load to advantage when covered with snow or sleet; and yet require nothing but light material to prodesired patina. y The upper orouter concave surface 2 may be smooth, as in Figure 1 or ribbed crosswise as shown at -4 in Figure 7. Here the shingle is laid duce same; and which'further is of such design as to permit lcontraction and expansion caused by temperature ,changes without strain, deformation, or impairment of any kind.

The advantages of the'invention will appear from the ensuing description, taken with the accompanying drawing, which discloses the best But Figure 4 is a side view of part of a holding or mounting strip for the roofing element.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the holding or mounting strip.

Figuren is a cross' sectional view of part of a roof showing how the shingles are secured in place Aby the holding and locking bars -or strips.

Figure '7 is al longitudinal section through a modified form of shingle', and

Figures 8 and 9 arev .cross sections of modifications.

The same numerals identify throughout.

The roofing element is indicated as a whole at I. It is made in a suitable machine, with a concave 'face' 2,-and with its opposite longitudinal edges turned over towards the other face,l as inthe same parts -so that it slopes-downward from right to left.

The form thus resembles ordinary shingles or Spanish tiles.

To mount and hold the elements on the outer or upper surface of the roof 5 (Figure 6) and facilitate fastening them in position I employ the members illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. These consist of a mounting and holding strip 6 to support the shingles; and a locking strip or member I2. Both are made of metal strips formed by machine.

Each holder strip has a wide flanged base 1, which is aflixed to the roof 5 by means of fastening devices 9 driven through the base; or nails 8 having heads that overlap the edge of the base. From the base rise opposing ribs I0, with their upper edges turned downward and inward, as at II. The locking strips I2 have a convex head or top I3; and a web I4, consisting of parallel engagement.

l'I'o attach the shingles I, these are laid as presented in Figure 6. The mounting` and locking sides I5 with shoulders I6. The edges of the sides are spaced apart and converge beyond the shoulders I6. The sides can be forced towards each other to t into the mounting strips between the 'strips are affixed to the roof as far apart as the vwidth of the shingles and the latter rest on the sides I0 of the strips 6, with their parts or flanges 3 between said sides.. When the locking strips are added the shoulders I6 catch or detent portions pass below the extremities of the inturned edges I I, holding the part 3 in tight contact |with the parts I I', and a binding t results. The head i sides of the shingles thus is sealed.

The shingles and strips are laid down the slope 'of the roof; and when the roof has two sides,

usually no more than two shingles are needed; the upper overlapping the lower. The shingles are all nailed at one end only in the middle, as indicated at I1. They approach but do not quite make contact with the lroof 5, and the nailing is done at the point closest to the roof surface. The shingles are then free to expand or contract lengthwise, and any crosswise changes due to a. rise or fall in temperature are free to occur because ofthe curvature of the shingles. At the ridge of the roof the ends of the shingles are covered or screened in any feasible manner, this is not being a part of the invention herein.

lFrom the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have perfected a roong construction which fully realizes all the aims and purposes of my invention.

When the shingles are nailed to the roof, a

washer Ila can be employed under each point where a nail isv driven to keep the'shingle from being bent down into actual contact with the roof 5. Where the shingles overlap, the lower only is fastened at itstop in' this way, the other beingsecured at a point near .the upper end; as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 8 the construction is shown withra slight change. vInstead ofhaving shoulders i5,

before, the turned-over extremities I simply slip down past the edges of the parts Il. and go 4. VCovering f or a building comprising under them; serving as detent or catches, like Y the shoulders I6. y

The modication of Figure 9 showsa mounting or supporting strip or rib l0' with a base or flange 1' 'attached to the roof 5. This member l0 has a triangular bead l I extending along the top, Along one edge the shingles each will have a channel-shaped bead 3a arranged at aslant so that it ts upon this bead I I.. Along the opposite side edges the shingles are shaped so as to pre'- sent a hollow round bead 3b, which forms-a lock- -ing member integral withthe shingle and ts upelements having downturned anges along their edges -received between said ribs t and locking strips having webs received between said ribs and engaging said flanges, and heads overlapping said ribs. y

2. Covering fora building comprising mounting strips each having a base with ribs thereon,

,surface elements supported by said ribs, said elereceived between said ribs and engaging. said flanges and heads overlapping said ribs.

v3. Roofing construction comprisingA mounting strips each having a base and ribs thereon, the tops of said ribs being turned down into the space between said ribs, roofing surface elements sup- .ported on said ribs and having downturned 20 flanges along.their sides received between said ribs, and locking strips having webs formed of separated detent portions between said ribs and engaging said flanges and the edges of said tops, and heads overlapping said ribs. I

` mounting strips each having a base with ribs thereon, surface elements supported by said ribs, said-elements ,having downturned anges along their edges received between said ribs, said elementsA I having concage outer'surfaces and being amxed at one end only, the tops of said ribs beingv turned l down into the space between them, and locking strips having webs formed of' separated detent. portions received between said ribs and engaging' saidflanges and the edges of said tops, and headsoverlapping said ribs.

5. Roofing construction comprising'mountin'g` strips each having a base and spaced ribs there'- on, the tops of said ribs being turned downinto` I4.0 the space between said ribs, roofing surface eleis made right enough to hold lthe shingles permanently in place; and the edge of the member 3b serves as a catch to secure the bead part 3a against the bent part H along the length of the rib I0.

Having described my/invention to be new is:

1. Roofing construction comprising mounting strips, each having a base with ribs thereon, roofh 80 ing surface elements supported `by said ribs, said lwhat I` believe ments supported on said ribs and having downturned flanges along their sides received between said ribs, and locking strips having webs formed of separated portions. with edges presentedl out-l Y 'ksaid ribs.

and the edges of said tops, and 'heads overlapping 6, Covering-for a building comprisingmounting strips each having a base with ribs thereon,

surface elements supported by said ribs, said elements having downturned flanges along their` edges received between said ribs, said elements .n

turned down into the.space between them, and

lockingy strips having webs formed of separated? K.

detent portions received between` said ribs and Y' engaging said -anges and theje'dges-of said tops,

and heads overlapping said ribs. g

` OMUND Hom-HANSEN. 

